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Interviewing

Just as you comparison shop for other products, you should request bids from at least two or three reputable contractors. (To ensure comparable bids, make sure the contractors are bidding on the same specifications and materials.) Make sure you are able to sit down with each contractor to discuss the details of your home improvement project. Be prepared to ask questions that will assist you in determining whether or not each prospect is a reliable professional who will be easy to work with and who will complete the project to your satisfaction. A true professional will welcome your questions and will be pleased to know that he or she is dealing with a knowledgeable and careful consumer.

Here are some questions to ask in each interview:

  1. Are you a licensed contractor? Don't be fooled. A contractor may have a business license (for tax purposes), but this has no bearing on his or her competence as a contractor. Many contractors give out an expired or false license number. Call the Department of Labor and Industry to verify the license: 651.284.5065.
  2. Can you provide me with references from previous jobs? A legitimate and professional contractor will have addresses in your neighborhood, complete with phone numbers, for you to view and verify previous work. In addition, ask the contractor if he or she is working on any jobs that you might be able to visit. This will give you a more thorough look at how the contractor conducts business.
  3. Do you offer a warranty on workmanship? Don’t be fooled by a salesperson who offers you a lifetime warranty only to find out later that this was valid only for materials. Make sure to ask if the warranty is for labor and materials.
  4. How have you handled previous customer complaints? The point of this question is to determine how the contractor handled the complaint, not to focus on the actual complaint. Request that the contractor give you the details on how he or she dealt with the complaint. Also, ask if the contractor has ever lost a job-related court case or had his or her Contractor’s License suspended. If so, ask about the reasons why. Again, make sure to contact the Better Business Bureau to find out if any complaints have been filed against the contractor: 651.699.1111.